Here's a recent picture of Jan Ullrich, who seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong says is the cyclist to beat this year.
“I saw the pictures of him at his (T-mobile) team presentation a couple of days ago and he looks in great shape.”
I'm not saying that Armstrong doesn't know what he's talking about, but he must be seeing different pictures than I am. I'm accustomed to seeing pro cyclists who look lean and hungry. Emaciated. Jan looks like the off-season has been a series of four-course meals with extra desserts.
Armstrong was quoted on Ullrich's chances in The Star (South Africa) and other pubs during his visit to that country for a corporate health campaign.
“I believe 2006 is Ullrich's year. I predict he will win by five minutes — maybe four, but Ullrich will win this year. …
“He is the most talented rider I have ever seen and if he's as fit as he looks then I can't see anyone coming close to him, not even (Ivan) Basso. Jan has the edge in the time trials and he's hungry to win it again. I reckon that Jan will win the Tour by five minutes… okay, maybe four and a half minutes.”
I'm assuming the Ullrich picture was taken during his T-Mobile's team presentation on Saturday at Mallorca. In an interview on the T-Mobile website, Ullrich said:
“This year I’ll have another shot at the Tour (he previously won in 1997). I’m not getting any younger (he's 33) and won’t have many more chances to win it.”
Will things be easier without Armstrong?
“I think it will rather be more difficult. There’s no team to control the bunch the way Armstrong’s team did in the past few years. So things will be more hectic in the peloton.”
Main rivals? Ivan Basso from Team CSC and former T-Mobile cyclist Alexander Vinokourov.
As for Armstrong's own Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team, he wasn't willing to predict the team leaders, naming Italy's Paolo Savoldelli, Yaroslav Popovych and George Hincapie at the top three.
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